The GNU project has acted as the starting point of a movement that makes
sure we can control technology, and not technology controlling us. Today, Free
Software is everywhere: It powers the Internet, our mobile phones, televisions,
cars, routers, and electronic devices of all sorts. Free Software has
fundamentally changed the way people create software: instead of preventing
people to adapt the software to their own needs, they invite people to
participate in the development.

FSFE is grateful to Richard Stallman for sparking this epochal change, and
to everyone who has joined our movement to drive Free Software's progress for
three decades.

From 27-29 September 22 Fellows of FSFE from 10 countries
gathered in Berlin for the first European Coordinators Meeting. During the
weekend the coordinators got to know each other, presented their work, talked
about possibilities to promote Free Software, shared good practices, and
provided valuable feedback about our campaigns. If you are interested to see
who is promoting Free Software in local Fellowship groups have
a look at Lucile's blog entry.

Something completely different

Technology should be a means to freedom and creativity. Yet governments
around the world are turning computers and networks into tools of oppression.
FSFE joined a coalition of more
than 265 organisations which launched a list of 13 International
Principles on the Application of Human Rights to Communication
Surveillance.

To celebrate GNU's 30th anniversary, FSF suggested software freedom actions for
each day during September. Of course you can repeat that anytime you
want.

Public administration: the French
Gendarmerie now maintains 37,000 GNU/Linux desktops, and after the
planned switch next summer it will be 72,000. Officials say they are able to
lower the total cost of operation by 40% compared to the proprietary
solution. But the savings are just one point, the other one is more vendor
independence.

More people should know about the importance and uniqueness of the development
GNU has started. So we ask you to talk with your friends, acquaintances and colleagues about
the history and
philosophy of GNU project and to reflect
about which positive side effect of GNU's invention you personally appreciate the most.